Salt Lake City Police believe man fatally shot at 'No Kings' protest was innocent bystander

The Associated Press

· Posted: Jun 16, 2025 7:20 AM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

A antheral who was believed to beryllium portion of a peacekeeping squad for the "No Kings" protestation successful Salt Lake City changeable astatine a idiosyncratic who was brandishing a firearm astatine demonstrators, striking some the rifleman and a bystander who aboriginal died astatine the hospital, authorities said Sunday.

Police took the alleged rifleman, Arturo Gamboa, 24, into custody Saturday evening connected a execution charge, Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said astatine a Sunday quality conference.

The bystander was Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, 39, a manner decorator from Samoa.

"Our detectives judge helium was an guiltless bystander," the constabulary section said successful a societal media post.

Detectives don't yet cognize wherefore Gamboa pulled retired what they picture arsenic an AR-15-style rifle, oregon wherefore helium ran from the peacekeepers, but they accused him of creating the unsafe concern that led to Ah Loo's death. The Associated Press did not instantly find a lawyer listed for Gamboa oregon interaction accusation for his household successful nationalist records.

Redd said the antheral believed to beryllium portion of the peacekeeping team, dressed successful a neon greenish vest, fired 3 shots from a handgun astatine Gamboa, inflicting a comparatively insignificant wounded but fatally shooting Ah Loo. Redd did not stock the man's name.

Police inactive probing who fired shots

Volunteer peacekeeping teams are communal for protests, said Sarah Parker, a nationalist co-ordinator for 50501 Movement, which was a spouse successful the "No Kings" protest. But the organizers inquire attendees, including the peacekeepers, not to bring weapons, she said. Still, Parker said they stopped what could've been a larger wide casualty event.

"Our information squad did arsenic champion arsenic they could successful a concern that is highly bittersweet and highly scary," said Parker.

Ah Loo, known arsenic Afa, was a hubby and begetter to 2 children and a manner decorator who leaned into his Samoan heritage, according to a GoFundMe leafage organized to enactment his family. Ah Loo founded Creative Pacific, an lawsuit celebrating the diverseness of the Pacific Islands, with workshops, artists and a manner runway. He was connected Season 17 of the manner plan world TV amusement Project Runway.

The gunshots sent hundreds of protesters running, immoderate hiding down barriers and fleeing into parking garages and adjacent businesses, constabulary said successful a statement.

"That's a gun. Come on, travel on, get out," idiosyncratic tin beryllium heard saying successful a video posted to societal media that appears to amusement the events.

"No Kings" protests swept crossed the U.S. connected Saturday, and organizers said millions rallied against what they described arsenic President Donald Trump's authoritarian tendencies.

The shooter and different idiosyncratic successful a neon vest allegedly saw Gamboa abstracted from the assemblage of marchers successful downtown Salt Lake City, determination down a partition and retreat a firearm astir 8 p.m., Redd said.

When the 2 men successful vests confronted Gamboa with their handguns drawn, witnesses said Gamboa raised his firearm into a firing presumption and ran toward the crowd, said Redd.

That's erstwhile 1 of the men dressed successful the vests changeable 3 rounds, hitting Gamboa and Ah Loo, said Redd. Gamboa, who constabulary said didn't person a transgression history, was wounded and treated earlier being booked into jail.

Redd said that the peacekeepers' actions are besides portion of the investigation.

Police said they recovered an AR-15 benignant rifle, a state disguise and a backpack astatine the scene.